Thursday, July 28, 2005

New Internet Writing Opportunity: Online Education Seminars

This past Monday's post discussed using editorial skills to start an online communications firm. Our mission is to get editorial professionals to think beyond obvious employment opportunities and seek a myriad of ways to make money using their skills. Continuing in this vein, today we will take a look at the opportunity presented by online education seminars/"webinars".

As you read, think: can I start my own online seminar; what niche can I apply my skills to in this 21st century medium?
*********************************************

Web Casting: The Future of Online Education
by Jim Edwards

Despite the communications power of the Internet, nothing beats good old human interaction when it comes to learning a new skill. You can always read a book, listen to a tape, or watch a video to learn how to do something, but, in the end, learning from a live teacher who can answer your questions on the spot works best.

Until recently, the Internet resembled a large "book" of electronic text and pictures where any extended "human" interactivity could only take place offline by tele-conference or in-person meetings.

Now, however, the appearance of cheap "web casting" creates an inexpensive opportunity for mass interactive communication between people spread all over the world. "Web casting" (broadcasting through the web) enables a presenter to transmit a live presentation over the Internet to as many as 10,000 participants.


Post Continued Below
*********************************************
Inkwell Editorial Work-from-Home Ebooks
http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/bizguides.htm
*********************************************
Advertise Your Product/Service on InkwellEditorial.com
http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CommerceCntr/listing.htm
*********************************************

For most online events, participants only need an Internet connection through a standard phone line and audio speakers. In the post-9/11 era, people simply don't like to travel as frequently. The meal and hotel costs associated with attending seminars or other adult education events make it even harder to attract a full audience.

However, with web casting, you can pull together a large group of people from around the world at a specific time on a given day, teach them something, and then let them all get back to their lives without the traditional interruptions and expenses of travel.

Web casting enables you to literally present just about any type of information or educational material you want. [NOTE: Think of all the writing/editing opportunities this presents]. You can do everything from a simple "radio" type presentation where people passively listen, to a multimedia presentation complete with Power Point slides and live tours of actual websites.

At this point, imagination seems to represent the only limitation as far as what you can do to teach people through the Internet using this technology. Currently, large corporations and independent speakers and entrepreneurs seem to represent the majority of web casting users.

I believe this comes from the fact that people simply don't know about it yet and don't understand how to use it. Once that changes, web casting will go a long way towards replacing tele-conferencing as the preferred means of long-distance education.

In the future, as costs decrease even further, you will find people using web casting for everything from online family reunions and sales presentations, to home-based cooking shows and pay-per-view seminars. As the technology improves, the potential uses will skyrocket.

As with any new technology, a few drawbacks exist. Though web casting works with modem speeds as low as 28K, no one standard has emerged for broadcasting content. Some services require Real Player, while others require Microsoft's media player, and, as usual, Mac users often get left out in the cold without any options.

Right now, search engine giant Google.com rates the best source of information on how to offer your own web cast. Simply log on to Google, search for "webcast," and investigate the ever-growing number of available resources.
****************************************************************************
Check out the Inkwell Editorial Job Boards!
Full-time Listings: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/postjob.htm
Freelance Listings: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/freelance-jobs.htm
****************************************************************************
About the Author: Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the co-author of an amazing new ebook that will teach you how to use free articles to quickly drive thousands of targeted visitors to your website or affiliate links...

Monday, July 25, 2005

How to Use Your Editorial Skills to Build a Communications Firm

When most freelancers think of running an editorial business, they think of writing, editing, researching, etc. copy for clients. BUT, the Internet makes it more possible than ever to use editorial skills to build whatever type of communication firm you want.

A prime example, Ray Owens, who makes his living telling old jokes on the Internet (see story below). So, when you think of freelancing, think beyond the traditional. You are in the communications business, in the information age – think broad and go for it! _____________________________
MAILING LISTS - IT'S PERSONAL
by Ray Owens

"Wait a minute -- you mean to tell me you're actually making a living telling old jokes on the Internet?" That's usually the first reaction when I tell someone I have a joke-telling business via email.

Ok, the first reaction is normally, "So, tell me a joke." When I get a blank look on my face and it's obvious that I can barely remember my name, I'm usually presented with the zinger, "Must not be much of a joke service if you can't remember a single joke." I then have to buy the beer.
Post Continued Below
*********************************************
Inkwell Editorial Work-from-Home Ebooks
http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/bizguides.htm
*********************************************
Advertise Your Product/Service on InkwellEditorial.com
http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CommerceCntr/listing.htm
*********************************************

Ah well, such are the hazards of trying to explain how my company, Joke A Day, http://www.jokeaday.com, has gone from having a small group of friends (8 as a matter of fact) sharing jokes via email to being the largest daily humor mailing list in the world.

Is there a more common use of email than forwarding something funny to a bazillion of your closest friends? Probably not. It's kin to the fact that 95% of all microwaves in the world do nothing but popcorn and heat coffee. Humor listings are a dime a dozen and there's no new jokes on the planet. So how is Joke A Day able to generate revenue close to $150,000 a year without telling a single original joke?

For those of you who may have started a mailing listing of your own, this is not an inconsequential question: "How do I make my mailing list unique? Different?" Especially if you're using content that can be found in many other places. Because, let's boil it down to the basics, boys and girls: if you want to make any money, you've got to be sponsored by advertising. If you want advertisers, you have to have readers. To have readers, you have to have content that's different from any place else.

What's my secret? I'm the smartest and sexiest man on the planet. Ok, truth be known I'm uglier than a mud fence and have nothing more notable on my resume than I figured out how to do HTML with Notepad. The secret to having a successful mailing list is my personality.

Think about Top 40 radio stations. (Or C&W -- or any other genre). The music is all the same. There's not one bit of difference between playing Celine Dion on station A that there would be on station B. What causes you to listen to station A over station B is the intangible "personality" of the station itself. The DJs who play the music. The advertisements they run. The amount of time they spend talking over the records.

Joke A Day is an extension of my personality. It grew from having 8 members on the listing to having over 150,000 members in two years. The only difference between it and other, older listings is how I "talk" to the readers.

I'm not averse to sharing personal tidbits with the readers. I've talked recently of my impending divorce. I've given them tales of my two daughters. I've bitched about being on the road and the joy of traveling for a living. I've shared with them the joy of running my own business and the triumph I felt when I was able to leave my "real" job to devote full time to Joke A Day.

In response, readers tell me how "personal" the service is. How glad they are to get email from me because it's like getting mail from a friend. How inclined they are to read my sponsors' ads and do what my sponsors are asking because they're getting a referral from me - their friend.

It's a complete cycle. My sponsors enjoy higher response rates because of the loyalty of my readers. Because it's a good investment for them, I have plenty of return sponsor business. In fact, I've not had an unsold ad spot in over a year - and my inventory is sold out for the next two to three months.

So what does all of this mean for you and your email listing? It means that Joke A Day is like The Borg, resistance is futile, and you should just go ahead and send all of your readers over to me. (It's so hard for a man who makes a living telling jokes to be serious). Here's your guide to having a successful email listing:

(1) Talk to your readers. When you sit down to do a publication, pretend that you're sitting across the table from your best friend and talk to him.

(2) Establish a personal rapport with your readers. Don't be afraid of screwing up. Don't be afraid of sharing a little about yourself with your readers. This lets them know there's a real human being on the other side of that monitor.

(3) Talk to your sponsors the same way. Weekly I send out a Sponsor Newsletter chock full of things that help them grow their business. (Sure, I hawk my own stuff, too, let's not get too far from reality here). But let your Sponsors know what's going on with your business - give them "the inside scoop" behind your decisions and how you're running things.

When people are "on the inside" it makes them feel special. To quote one of those baseball movies: "Build it and they will come." Make your readers your friends and the subscription numbers will climb through the roof. Then you can buy the beer.
_________________________________
Check out the Inkwell Editorial Job Boards!
Full-time Listings: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/postjob.htm
Freelance Listings: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/freelance-jobs.htm

About the Author: Ray Owens is the President of Joke A Day - The World's Largest Daily Humor Mailing List at http://www.jokeaday.com. Contact Ray at jokeaday@jokeaday.com.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

About Freelancing Internationally

Today's post features the first entry from our "Freelancing Internationally" series. We're sure you'll enjoy this informative new sequence!

Freelance Writing for a Client in Hong Kong
by Mike Spitalieri

What was the assignment (writing, building a website, translating, etc.)? I was contacted on Christmas Eve 2004 about a freelance writing assignment (my first paying one) from Geoclicks, based in Hong Kong, which publishes the georeviews.com and you-review.net websites.

Basically, they wanted a series of articles regarding consumer electronics in the form of buyer's guides. I jumped on the opportunity, and although it took some time to get a hold of them, we eventually touched base and got things rolling.

Post Continued Below
*********************************************
Inkwell Editorial Work-from-Home Ebooks:
http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/bizguides.htm
*********************************************
Advertise Your Product/Service on InkwellEditorial.com: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CommerceCntr/listing.htm
*********************************************

How did you get the assignment (sent a resume, fax, email; made a call; recommended by a friend; referred by a client, etc.)? I posted my resume on CraigsList.com; they contacted me.

Did a time difference affect your work? Not so much. I would submit things during the day on the East coast US and usually receive a response the following day during the evening.

Read Mike’s entire account here: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CareerCenter/international/7-21-05.htm.
*********************************************

Check out the Inkwell Editorial Job Boards!

Monday, July 18, 2005

Scriptwriting  A Lucrative Writing Opportunity!

Imagine making $3,000-$15,000 on a two week project. Depending on your client's budget, scriptwriting projects can command money like this and more.

You may not have considered scriptwriting as a lucrative part of your freelance copywriting business. It's a skill you can easily learn -- if you apply some simple techniques. In fact, you're probably already equipped with the writing skills and motivation to be an excellent scriptwriter!
A plethora of projects: There are a wide variety of script projects available. Promotional scripts help companies sell their products and services or tout upcoming events. Educational scripts provide information about ideas, services or products. Script projects can come from companies, educational entities, churches and many other sources. Television and radio commercial scripts abound -- even promotional, "on-hold" messages require a written script.


Post Continued Below
****************************************************************************
Visit the InkwellEditorial.com job boards today!
Freelance listings. http://www.InkwellEditorial.com/freelance-jobs.htm: ****************************************************************************

If you watch TV and listen to the radio, you will hear at least 16 script projects an hour played out by actors (or car salesmen who think they are actors). Sixteen projects an hour, times 24 hours a day, is a lot of scriptwriting projects. And, multiply the number of projects by the number of media venues across the world -- the work is there! Like any writing project, you have to work at finding it -- or help it find you.

Getting Started - Format is first: Before you begin looking for scriptwriting projects, you need to know about script format. Script format is not difficult and there are several formats you can employ, but you must adhere to these formats to maintain consistency. There are also subtle variations from writer to writer of course, but stay as close to a format as possible. Your clients may have a format they prefer. You should always ask.

You can find thousands of script format samples on the Internet or buy books on the subject. Video Scriptwriting: How to Write for the $4 Billion Commercial Video Market, by Barry Hampe is a scriptwriting bible. It is a small, unassuming paperback, published in 1993, but has timely, relevant information for scriptwriters. He covers the "dos and don'ts" of scriptwriting useful to any freelancer. It is a useful writing resource and motivational tool you'll refer to often. The author covers the whole process of getting clients, how to write the scripts, what to charge for them and how to close the deal.

What to charge: It is a good idea to charge a flat fee for writing a script because there are no surprises for you or your client. First, find out how long the script needs to be or what the budget is. Do some calculations on how long you think it will take you to research and write the script (don't forget to include time spent on the phone, meetings and rewrites). Multiply this projected amount of time by your hourly fee. Add two hours for incidentals and stick with this figure.

Getting Paid -- The Contract: In a contract, it is standard to ask for one-third down to start, one-third at the first draft, and the balance on delivery (or as soon as thirty days after you deliver). Outline everything in the contract: payment schedules, fees, rewrites you will do, etc.
Asking for a down payment ensures that your client is a serious participant in the project. Never do work without some assurance that you will be getting paid.

Rewrites: Never do more than three rewrites. By now, you know almost everyone thinks they can write as well as you do. Writing is a very subjective thing, so stick to your guns. You are the professional. That said, never argue with the client. Offer your opinion on changes, do it his way, then smile when the client hands you the check. If your rewrite meets with negativity and the project is scrapped, bill for the amount of the time you spent on the rewrite.

If the client shirks responsibility on payment for the rewrites, have proof of your work, your contract in hand and take your case to small claims court. If you've gone over your projected amount of time on a project, note it and don't shortchange yourself the next time you bid a project. If you go under the time, refund the money your client overpaid, a move that builds your credibility by volumes. And, you will be the first one called the next time a project needs a writer.

Know Your Audience: If you are writing a promotional script about an automobile, you need to know to whom your client is trying to sell and what the selling points are. A busy mom won't care about sleek styling and 100.6 horses under the hood. She won't want to know how "thingies" fire at the right time for peak performance. She wants to know she can pick up her carpool kidlets and get them to school: safely and on time.

Point out that there's room for 6, plus the class salamander with seatbelts for everyone. Show the cool storage compartment right below her right elbow for nose wipers. Tell her she can place a frantic call for help with the push of a button. Scriptwriting requires balance. You must consider all the elements of your subject, your audience and the tone.

Project Ideas: There are so many available projects for scriptwriters. All you need is to get started. Companies, organizations, schools, churches and more need your help. Here are just a few project ideas:

**TV and radio commercials
**Powerpoint presentations
**Tourism scripts
**Job orientation scripts
**Educational scripts
**Product usage scripts
**Product introduction scripts
**On-hold messages
**Instructional scripts
**Self-improvement scripts
**Scripts for travel industry
**Special event scripts
**Medical method scripts
**Public relations scripts
**And much more!

Don't forget -- Hollywood could always use your help too! Although commercial scriptwriting can pay the bills handsomely, writing movie or TV scripts is fun.

Get Started: You have all the tools to write scripts. You know how to research, outline and write in a cohesive manner. Now you can add script writing to your repertoire. Your Web site (you do have one, don't you?) is the best place to showcase your scripts. Always post your samples on your site. If you have a special knowledge in a field, be sure to promote the heck out of it. Optimize your site to get hits, when clients go surfing for the best writer for the project.

Pick a subject you're are interested in or favorite charity. Envision yourself profiting on a script submission and write a speculation script as if you'll profit from it. Who knows, you just might profit in ways you never imagined and you'll have a great sample for your portfolio.

Getting the First Job: If you've never written a script, now is as good a time as any to get started. You can pick a subject, research and write one.

Most likely you will get your first project with a former client or charity organization. If not, you will need a calling card: a finished sample to show. Either way, establishing yourself as a professional, flexible copywriter is the first step. Call a non-profit organization in your area and offer to write a script for them for free. Do a great job and who knows what could come of it.

NOTE: See article with sample script formats here: http://www.freebird-zine.com/misc/scriptwriting.html (article first appeared on this site).

***********************************************
Inkwell Editorial Work-from-Home Ebooks: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/bizguides.htm
Advertise Your Product/Service on InkwellEditorial.com: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CommerceCntr/listing.htm
*********************************************************************************** About the Author: Missouri based Penny Warner has worked as a copywriter photographer, feature writer and editor for more than ten years and has published articles in Missouri Life Magazine, Ozark Farm and Neighbor, Lake LifeStyles, the Lake Sun Leader and hundreds of feature articles and photos in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. She has written two of the top-selling instructional videos in the model railroad industry and completed three full-length screenplays. Her Web site is coming soon at www.write4u.net.
***********************************************************************************

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Profile of a Freelance Writer

Today's entry is our monthly "Freelance Success Story." This series features first-hand accounts of successful freelancers. We hope you find them useful -- and inspirational.

Profile of a Freelance Writer
by Lisa Beyer

I'm a freelance writer, and I specialize in Human Resources communications, such as employee newsletters, enrollment guides, summary plan descriptions...anything a corporation can use to communicate effectively with employees about their benefits and compensation.

Background: For the first 20 years of my career, I worked in public relations in Chicago, for a hospital consortium, for a large chemical company as the manager of employee communications and with Hewitt Associates, a large HR Consulting firm. I also freelanced for a year, mostly doing features for the Chicago Tribune and my local paper.

We moved to Georgia and I had a couple of not too exciting jobs, so I decided to try my hand at freelancing again. I've had a liver transplant and though my health is actually really good, I got tired of commuting, being away from home for long hours, etc. My work is done at home through email, fax, phone and the Internet. That was four years ago and my income waivers between $22,000 and $50,000 annually.

Read Lisa's entire story here: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CareerCenter/success/7-14-05.htm.
*********************************************

Check out the Inkwell Editorial Job Boards:
Full-time Listings: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/postjob.htm
Freelance Listings: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/freelance-jobs.htm

Inkwell Editorial Work-from-Home Ebooks: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/bizguides.htm

Advertise Your Product/Service on InkwellEditorial.com: http://www.inkwelleditorial.com/CommerceCntr/listing.htm

Monday, July 11, 2005

How to Earn Residual Writing Income: Interview w/ Successful E-Book Author

An Interview with Jennie S. Bev, author of "Write Industry Reports"
by Brian Konradt

JENNIE S. BEV is a successful industry researcher, author, publicist, management consultant and instructional designer with several published book-length manuscripts and reports, three books and 800 articles under her belt. Her bylines have appeared in tens of regional, national and international publications in the United States, Canada and Southeast Asia. She is the author of the highly praised FabJob.com Guide to Become a Management Consultant. She also manages an online book review club, BookReviewClub.com, to advocate the love of reading to all ages.

[ BK ]: You've written two e-books so far. Tell us the process of writing an e-book, and why you decided to write your material in e-book format? What have been the advantages?

JENNIE S. BEV: Writing an e-book is just like writing any other book. Tenacity, ability to focus and stamina to convey compelling messages from start to finish determine the quality of the finished book (or e-book).

I personally don't have any preference over the format of books, because it is not as important as the value of information contained therein. Since the writing process is the same in both formats, e-books should receive increased acceptance in the literary world, which, fortunately, is already happening. My forthcoming book, which is an industry report, will be paper-based. As soon as I complete it in a few more weeks, I'll be writing another e-book and a paper-based book. You can see how varied the formats of my books are.

Both electronic and print formats have their own advantages and disadvantages, of course. And one is [not] better than the other. E-books, for instance, allow the author to include direct hyperlinks to the referencing sources, which can be extremely valuable for books that "teach," such as how-to books. This way, the readers will be directly referred to Web sites for more in-depth information without having to spend countless hours searching for additional information that support the information contained in the e-book. However, since e-books must be viewed on a computer screen (or other e-book reader device), it is less handy than print books. Unless the reader uses a handheld e-book device, it would be impossible to read in a bathtub, for instance.

Post Continued Below
****************************************************************************
Visit the InkwellEditorial.com job boards today!
http://www.InkwellEditorial.com/postjob.htm: Full-time listings. http://www.InkwellEditorial.com/freelance-jobs.htm: Freelance listings. ****************************************************************************
[ BK ]: You recently were named a finalist in the Non-Fiction, How-To Category of the 2003 Eppie Awards for excellence in electronic publishing. Did you know your e-book, "Guide Become a Management Consultant" was going to become a big success? What do you think contributed to this e-book's success? Is it the writing, publishing, or marketing?

JENNIE S. BEV: You made me blush. Honestly, I was not expecting any award or official recognition for "FabJob.com Guide to Become a Management Consultant." I simply tried my best to write the most comprehensive reference for people who are looking for ways to break into and succeed in management consultant. In that e-book, I also interviewed 15 experienced management consultants, some of whom are best-selling authors and renowned well-respected professionals. This effort alone demonstrates my passion, which is very important in birthing a valuable book.

I honestly think no writer should write for an award because it would distract him or her from the ultimate goal: writing a book of distinctive quality. As a Zen master said, "live for the moment." When you're eating, eat. When you're sleeping, sleep. When you are writing, write. Ah, I've been talking as if I had won already. The winners will be announced in March 2003, so I'm still keeping my fingers crossed.

All the three factors (the writing, publishing and marketing) play important roles in creating a successful book (or e-book). An author can write the best book in the world, but without proper publishing package (the formatting and final touches) and publicity/marketing efforts, nobody would buy it.

[ BK ]: Can you describe your typical workday?

JENNIE S. BEV: In my ideal day, I read one book and write at least 1,000 words. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I wake up at around 7 and go to bed at midnight. I go to my neighborhood gym every other day or at anytime when writer's block strikes.

[ BK ]: You have over 800 articles published. How do you stay so prolific?

JENNIE S. BEV: As a full-time writer, I write for at least 4 hours per day. I use the other half working day to perform some research (if needed) and to take care of my balance with exercising and having a social life. Mental and physical balance are very important to keep my writing flows. When I'm stressed out, I usually cannot perform well.

[ BK ]: Can you share some of your strategies on how you successfully sell your writing to editors and publishers? Any secrets?

JENNIE S. BEV: No secrets. Just keep persisting and be prepared for rejections. A professional writer handles rejections professionally. It's never about you; it's about different needs. Make it a part of life, don't sweat it.

[ BK ]: Your newest e-book, "Write Industry Reports" helps writers write industry reports for research firms and earn big bucks. How did you first hear about this type of writing? What are the advantages to writing for research firms?

JENNIE S. BEV: As a business writer, I often search for specific data, such as statistics or other business intelligence information. One day I "bumped" into industry reports and was astonished by the ridiculously high price. Many of them are more than $3,000 a piece. "That's way too expensive for my research," I thought. This incident sparked my curiosity about writing industry reports. I wanted to know more about these high-priced publications: what they really are, who writes them and, of course, if I can write one. My search revealed that many research firms do hire freelance writers to write such reports, although most likely they also employ full-time researchers.

The advantages to writing for research firms? First, you will learn as you go along. You will find new methodologies to search for specific information. You will become more proficient in the research and writing vocations. Second, the PAY is incredibly high. From my experience, research firms pay up to 25 percent of the retail price in royalties. If your report is priced at $3,000, it translates to $750 in royalties PER SALE for you. More importantly, since the payment is in residual income, you'll keep getting paid without putting forth extra work as long as your report is still being sold. Naturally $5,000 in royalties per month is highly feasible.

[ BK ]: How did you first get started as a writer? What keeps you motivated and disciplined?

JENNIE S. BEV: I started writing when I was in college. The more I was proficient with research skills, the more articles I wrote. When I graduated with my Bachelor's, I already had a strong passion to write. Motivated? Disciplined? That's a tough question. Perhaps my love for writing more than anything else keeps me positive despite all of the ups and downs of the profession. Other than that, I have voices to be heard, bills to pay, and bylines to show.

[ BK ]: How has the Internet contributed to the success of your career?

JENNIE S. BEV: During the dot-com explosion years, I wrote for many Web sites and served as managing editor, contributor and channel manager, which gave me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to publish over 700 articles within a short period of time. Today, my e-books are my babies. Whenever a copy is sold (on the Internet), I feel reinforced to write even better and more e-books!

[ BK ]: What's the best advice you ever received from another writer? What advice would you give a writer who wants to be successful?

JENNIE S. BEV: The best advice? "Everybody has a story tell, so tell yours in a compelling way and be proud of it." Advice for other writers? "Set your mind and heart for success, you deserve it. If some skeptics say you can't write and you can't make a living out of it, don't let their opinions get in the way of your success."

[ BK ]: What's one piece of advice you can give to help a writer boost his/her sales this year?

JENNIE S. BEV: The best way to earn a living as a writer is by earning residual income (royalties). This way, as long as your writing -- most likely in the form of a book or an e-book -- is still being sold, you can still earn without having to put forth extra work. Use your time to write for more royalty-earning books (or e-books) to create a snowballing effect.

My latest e-book entitled "Write Industry Reports: Work at Home and Start Earning $5,000 in Royalties per Month" clearly shows how to earn thousands of dollars from one book alone. Unlike in publishing other types of books, which only pay a few dollars per sold book, industry report authors enjoy much higher royalties per book. Why? Because the books help companies to see a clearer picture of their industry.

"Write Industry Reports: Work at Home and Start Earning $5,000 in Royalties per Month" covers everything from the A to Z of industry report writing so you can start earning more this year. I've included access to over 450 research firms for you to begin with.
-------------------------
About the Author: Jennie's ebook, "Write Industry Reports: Work at Home and Start Earning $5,000 in Royalties per Month" reveals her quietly-whispered secrets to earn residual income from your writing and research skills. Jennie's ebook is sold online at WritingCareer.com (http://www.writingcareer.com/bev001.shtml), an online ebook store.

© 2003 BRIAN S. KONRADT
****************************************************************************
Looking for freelance writing work, but don't know where to start or have the time to actively seek assignments? Coming Soon: List of 1,000 Paying Markets to begin your search! **********************************************************************************
Sample Listing: Home/Lifestyle Magazine. Seeks articles on interior design, shopping, entertaining, recipes, art and more. Pays $100-$500/article. The majority of our leads are little-known, industry-specific publications/firms that many freelancers don't target because they rarely advertise. We will only sell a limited number per year and the list will be updated/added to annually. Backed by a 100% money-back guarantee!****************************************************************************

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Free & Low-Cost Ways to Advertise Your Creative Biz

Many freelancers make the mistake of marketing only when they need the business -- losing untold dollars they could be consistently pocketing. Following are some cost-effective ways to increase sales by keeping your name constantly in front of customers.

Today's blog post (www.InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com) discusses free and low cost ways to get the word out about your creative/editorial business -- all the time!

1. Blogs: Although blogs have been around for a while, they have really gained popularity in the last 3 years or so. Large and small businesses are finding that blogs are a great way to personalize their company.

You can post company hirings, recent projects/jobs, solicit feedback from customers -- the uses of this unique form of communication can be a boon, especially to freelancers because when you are small, the need to connect with customers is extremely important.

Remember, behind every bid/job posting is a real, live person. Connecting with them in a personal way can make them feel like they "know" you/your company. This kind of connection leads to gigs/jobs.

Although you can use company newsletters to accomplish the same thing, customers are used to them being more formal in nature. So, make a personal connection with your customers -- blog away.

Cost: Free (see blogger.com)

Post Continued Below ****************************************************************************
Visit the InkwellEditorial.com job boards today!
http://www.InkwellEditorial.com/postjob.htm: Full-time listings. http://www.InkwellEditorial.com/freelance-jobs.htm: Freelance listings. ****************************************************************************

2. E-mail: Publish a company newsletter; send periodic sales/discount notices; send helpful/interesting articles about your industry that will somehow improve your customers' lives.

The point is to stay in contact on an unobtrusive, yet consistent basis. If you don't, when customers need your service they may have forgotten you exist. To do this, you must put visitor sign-up boxes on your website (you do have a website, don't you?) inviting potential customers to subscribe. Over time, this is one of the most cost-effective marketing methods you can use.

Cost: As little as $15/month (eg, ConstantContact.com).

3. Postcards: If you have a little more money to spend, postcards are excellent marketing tools. They are inexpensive to mail (Only 23¢ each as of this writing). Online companies like VistaPrint.com make it quick and easy to print and mail postcards quickly and professionally.

Color printing is nowhere near as expensive as it used to be. You can log on, design your postcard using templates or your own personal artwork and have it delivered in as little as 3 days. In about a week, you can have thousands of customers flocking to your website and/or calling your business.

Cost: Approx. $125 (based on ordering/mailing of 250 postcards from VistaPrint.com for $49.99; mailing cost $57.50; and miscellaneous S/H cost.)

Cost-effective marketing is limited only by your imagination. So, stay in constant contact so that you will be first on the list when customers want what you are offering.
****************************************************************************
What's your opinion, experience, comment, feedback? Click on "comments" to leave a reply, or the envelope graphic to email this article to a friend. You DO NOT need to be a subscriber to reply; you can also post anonymously. ****************************************************************************
Looking for freelance writing work, but don't know where to start or have the time to actively seek assignments? Coming Soon: List of 1,000 Paying Markets to begin your search! **********************************************************************************
Sample Listing: Home/Lifestyle Magazine. Seeks articles on interior design, shopping, entertaining, recipes, art and more. Pays $100-$500/article. The majority of our leads are little-known, industry-specific publications/firms that many freelancers don't target because they rarely advertise. We will only sell a limited number per year and the list will be updated/added to annually. Backed by a 100% money-back guarantee!****************************************************************************
May be reprinted with inclusion of the following in full: © 2005 InkwellEditorial.com: THE job and information portal for and about the creative and editorial industries. Visit our informative, up-to-date blog at http://inkwelleditorial.blogspot.com/ for first-hand information on how to start, grow and/or maintain a successful freelance career.